Ok, here's my story... I was born a Catholic, baptized as a Catholic, and raised a Catholic. Problem I had with Catholicism is that I never felt intimate with it, never was into it. Now, a year ago I was depressed and felt like crap, but this guy who turned into one of my best friends led me to his bible study church. It made me feel good in there and felt like I connected with God and the people there. Something i never felt at Catholic churches. I believe it is called a born-again church. Now fast-forward to today when I asked my friend to come to my church with me. He calls me a traitor (jokingly) for leaving the Catholic church. But my belief is it really is all the same... Christianity, Born-again, Catholic... Why does everyone want to be so divided? It's the same God, we just worship Him the same way. At my church we sing our hearts out, praise God and tell him we love him, pray for others with intimacy unlike my experiences at the Catholic church. So why is it that I'm a traitor to my friend? I keep telling him it's all the same...
Why do you care what your friend thinks? Faith is a very personal thing to you, not everyone has to agree with it. If you're comfortable with what you're doing and it changes your life to the better, then good for you, don't worry about others.
What is a Catholic? What type is your friend? Odds are he doesn't even know which denomination his specific beliefs fall under. There are over a 100 different Roman Catholic/Othodox sects, over 20 of those are directly supported by the Vatican.
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
But really, The CC is more about serenity rather than making a lot of noise. I have to come to appreciate that more in my old age hehe. I have come to learn that nothing is more profound than silence. It is something our society today doesn't know much about and the youth doesn't relate to much at all. I guess you can say it is still introverted in a society that is becoming more and more extroverted. You might appreciate it more when you are older. Just because you are trying something new doesn't mean you are throwing the old away. It will always be a part of you. You can be both.
11 PM on Saint Patricks Day night is not the time to ask serious questions. You will only get stupid answers from drunk people. I love beer. Originally I was going to do that really small but I decided against it because I'm not ashamed that I love beer.
I agree with you. I believe the Catholic church is a legitimate form of Christianity, but it's not the one I prefer or that helps me grow the most. I tried regularly attending for a while because of my ex. And it's still a good Christian denomination, but to me they seemed more concerned with obeying the rules (including lots they added themselves) than spiritual growth and each person's individual relationship with God. Services consisted of about 90% the same repeated ritual and not too much "new material". Some of them, however, feel that it is the original church and any other church (not from what they consider their direct line of succession) is not as good. I believe that the "church" referred to in the Bible is a term that covers much more than just one organization... but that's me. This may explain the "traitor" idea, though - they're OK with people like me who were never Catholic, but if you were originally Catholic and then you renounce it or switch denominations, the Catholic church doesn't like it very much. They think it's a form of backsliding. I'm glad you found a good church. I believe God is powerful enough to get past denominational differences, and forgiving enough to forgive us if we don't end up picking the best one. Meanwhile, sorry if they're not always very serious on here.
I think there are quite a few "lapsed" Catholic websites for support. I have a good friend who has taken much the same path as you. Let me know if you are interested and I'll see what kind of references I can get from her. Her parents are dedicated Catholics and, I think, most of her four of her five siblings are practicing Catholics. I think that only she and her younger brother have settled into Bible-teaching churches. It's your archetypal big Italian family where the conversation gets BIG and LOUD and DEMONSTRATIVE. I've seen it a few times with my own eyes...
But seriously wasn't your friend just joking, as you stated. A real friend would accept and embrace any decision you make. You aren't religious friends with him are you? Like you didn't meet the friend who called you a traitor, at a Catholic religious group or something?
ktvoss , you should not feel guilty or bad or have to excuse what you did. You're not a trator for wanting to feel more spiritual. God, and only God knows what's in your heart. That's all that really matters.
I have followed a similiar path as you. I would rather a "friend" thought I was a traitor then God did.
There are some good replies in here - very good replies. And I'm very happy that you have found a place that is encouraging your growth. You should be happy too (and thank God) and I'm sorry for the discouraging words even though they may have been in a joking manner. If they see the change in you, I'm willing to bet the jokes will stop. If 1 place is helping your relationship with Him more than another, that's where I would go. But don't try and judge one place over another though or one sermon over another. Different places my be more appropriate for different times in our lives. IMO, the things that are most important in a church are that they teach salvation in Jesus Christ and Him alone (grace - He did it all) and does the place help me to walk better with Him 7 days a week. Jesus didn't die for us to go to church. He did it to save us and to allow us to have a full-time relationship with God. Be happy, let your light shine and pray for those who might give you grief even in a joking manner.
